Abdel Benazzi's 2003 RBS 6 Nations review

The British

& Irish Lions

Tour to New Zealand 2017

Abdel Benazzi's 2003 RBS 6 Nations review

It was a very strange tournament for us - we improved on some things like discipline. The youngsters did well and we did some good combinations.

But we still have a problem at number 10 and lost a lot of points especially against England. However, out of Merceron, Gelez and Michalak I think that Merceron will play in the World Cup.

We won the Grand Slam a year ago and I think the coach wanted to try new things.

Everyone is thinking ahead to the World Cup and it was hard to get motivated for the RBS 6 Nations because we were champions - England were very motivated and we must be more professional and get motivated for each match.

Important players like Fabien Galthie, Tony Marsh and Pieter De Villiers will come back and we need players like that. At least we finished well against Wales which bodes well for the World Cup.

Dimitri Yachvili did really well at scrum-half and his kicking was good but there is no question that Galthie will start in the World Cup.

Clement Poitrenaud is a real asset for French rugby who produces all the flair of French rugby. It was also great to see Thomas Castaignede do well when he came back.

Aurelien Rougerie was not at his best but he had three months out with severe health problems and he will be back at his best for the World Cup.

We must remember what happened in 1999 when we played a bad 5 Nations tournament and got hammered by New Zealand before the tournament but then we did really well in the World Cup and reached the final.

But I think Galthie and Merceron will be in the starting line-up - Bernard Laporte will stick with the team that won last year's Grand Slam.